The Berlin Wall. A World Divided

From 14 May to 28 September 2025, the Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine in Paris is hosting an exceptional exhibition entitled "The Berlin Wall. A World Divided ". Produced by Musealia in collaboration with the Berlin Wall Foundation, it promises a total and poignant immersion in the tumultuous history of the division of Berlin during the Cold War.

The exhibition opens with an impressive display of over 10 metres of original fragments of the Berlin Wall, a powerful symbol of the division between East and West. Beyond these remnants, you will find hundreds of objects and testimonies, offering a poignant insight into the daily lives of Berliners at the time.

A journey through time in four parts

The exhibition is divided into four distinct sections. The first goes back to the origins of the Cold War and explains how Berlin became the theatre of international tensions. The second section focuses on the building of the Wall in 1961 and its immediate consequences. The third section explores life in the shadow of the Wall, with stories of those who tried to cross it and testimonies of everyday resistance. Finally, the fourth section celebrates the fall of the Wall in 1989 and the hopes for reunification that followed.

Unique objects and testimonies

The exhibition brings together over 200 original objects, including fragments of the Wall, period documents, photographs and personal artefacts. These items are accompanied by never-before-seen testimonies from those who lived through this period, offering a human and moving perspective on history.

A first stop on an international tour

The Cité de l'architecture et du patrimoine is honoured to be the first destination of an international tour that will continue over the next decade in various cities around the world. This exhibition is a unique opportunity to discover or rediscover a crucial part of contemporary history, while reflecting on the divisions that still persist today.

Cultural emotions are intense in the Paris Region.